She pulled her car over at the side road then turned off the machine. She grabbed the rear view; turned it towards her as it showed her reflection. She tilted her face aside, she cannot not noticed a small cut at the corner of her lips even though she had dissembled it with make up. She brought her finger to touched the slightly bruise that surrounding the cut.

It still hurt a bit.

Lately, Lisa second-guessed herself more than usual and Jennie never failed to make her felt better and assured her that she was right on her feet. 

She needed her comfort to made sure everything was going to be okay. 

Jennie was in the meeting. Her secretary informed her that she'd be done in short so she should wait in her office. She stared outside the window to the busy street below. 

"What are you looking at?" Jennie suddenly appeared behind her. Lisa didn't hear she came in. She wore the listed black blazer as her shiny dark brown hair straggling over her shoulder. 

"Nothing," Lisa cleared her throat bowing her head down alarmed that Jennie could see her tiny wound. "Is it okay if you company one for a while?" she asked without looking up. 

"Yes, of course, you want something?" Lisa declined her offer politely. 

"What's wrong, Lili?" she asked whilst Lisa still avoided eye contact with her.

Warily, Lisa elevated her head and softly sucked her bottom lip to disguise that thing that she didn't want to be seen. 

"Nothing." she covered her mouth with her palm and coughed a bit to smooth your act. 

"Can you say something- anything but nothing?" She snuffled cutely folding her arms to her chest. 

Lisa can't resist her cuteness, she laughed at the antics. As soon as the laughter out from her mouth, the wound sting sharply.

"Ouch, damn it!" unconsciously she touched the inured part, she caressed it hoping the pain reduced down. It wasn't that hurt, she could endure it. It was just the sudden stretch took her by surprise. 

"Sweet heart? What is it?" The lawyer spoke worriedly. She extended her hand and cup Lisa's face to examined her it closely. "Who did this to you?" 

"It's nothing, Nini," she looked away from her. "Just forget it," she pleaded.

"Lili?" she wasn't forcing her. She merely wished her to elaborate, she asked Lisa to trust her better. 

"Nini, I'm fine, really." Concern didn't fade away from her pretty face. 

"Talk to me, please." Jennie persuaded her softly. 

She sighed and shook her head tiredly. She didn't mind if she was physically in pain, what upset her was the emotional pressure she had to handle. More over she had to shove it down to her throat and it felt like she swallowed up big knot and made it extremely hard to breath. 

"I get what I deserve, I guess?" she croaked hesitantly. "It's not a big deal, Nini. I'm fine." She repeated fine over and over. She wasn't sure whether she really was fine or she just needed to assure herself that she really was okay. 

"You don't deserve any of this, Lisa. What happened?" 

"She passed away, my patient. Her mother lost it, she slaps me and well you see it yourself," Lisa shrugged. "It isn't her fault, she is devastated and it's fair." 

"How hard did she slap you? It made a cut." 

"Her ring I suspect." 

"It is not okay, Lili," she stroked the back of her hand, "you've-"

"I've done my best, I know. Don't worry too much, Nini. I'm better now. It's nothing compare to what she's going through. I don't want to talk about it anymore. It happens, I couldn't change anything even I desperately want to." 

"You have a kind heart, do you know that?" 

"I know, you always remind me of it," she smiled. 

"Why don't you go home? Get some sleep?" Jennie asked after awhile. They were sitting on Jennie's couch. Well Jennie sat, Lisa lied down with her head on her lap. 

"Because you're not there," she answered simply.

*****

"Do I look good?" Lisa adjust her top for the umpteenth time.

"You look really pretty. Now stop it sweet heart," Jennie put on her earrings. "You'll end up mess it up. Come on, we're going to be late." She pecks Lisa's lips as she grabbed her handbag and took Lisa's hand in her, marched their way out.

They were driving to Jennie's college reunion that held in one of the hotel in central city. Too much for Jennie's annoyance was that Lisa was home late yet again. They supposed to leave half- hour ago but Lisa had to fill up the tank and now they were stuck in traffic. 

"It's Sunday, of course the traffic would be bad," Lisa said to herself. "Have you tried to call Chaeyoung? Has it started already?" 

"It started fifteen minutes ago," Jennie stared at her phone waiting for her phone to reply her other messages. 

"I'm sorry." Lisa glanced at the passenger side. 

"It's okay, I understand." Lisa increased the volume of the music to ease Jennie out. 

Catchy melody from an old song heaved through the speaker. 

"0 is for the only one I see," Lisa sang teasingly at her, making her giggled. "V is very, very extraordinary. Sing with me, Nini!" 

"Love was made for me and you," Jennie did the chorus and laughed by their silliness.

Lisa was relieved the atmosphere backed to normal again. She kissed the back of Jennie's hand and attached it con her cheek, intoxicated by her fragrant perfume. 

They arrived at the destination thirteen minutes later. Lisa gave her car key to the valet. She held Jennie's hand as Jennie wrote her name in guest book. They got a cute small brown bear as souvenir. 

Jennie greeted all people she recognized. She also introduced Lisa as her other half to them. Lisa casually chattered with Jennie's friend as if they were her friends too. She wasn't a chitchat person to begin with, she did that only for Jennie's sake. Tonight was important to her, since she already ruined it by made her late, being a sociable plus one was the least she could do. 

Chaeyoung and Irene were there too. 

Jennie hugged both of them whilst Lisa fairly exchanging warn smile towards them.

Gathering wasn't Lisa's thing. It was hard for her to keep the conversation engrossed with people who she knew, moreover to strangers. 

She patted Jennie's bare shoulder as she told her that she'd go hunting for food. Jennie merely nodded then resumed her prattle animatedly with the girl with red hair who proved to be her first year roommate.

"So I hear that Jennie Kim is dating a girl now," Lisa stopped her food that she was about to eat midair. "Apparently, she's a nurse. Good evening, Ms. Lisa Manoban." 

She turned to her back finding a smug, fat breaded man standing before her. She tilted her head, contemplating how to reacted towards this dinosaurs. 

"You know, I never know that she would be okay with it- you I mean," he insolently pointed at her, making her frowned. "Since nurse is obviously doesn't have that much money," he flicked his tongue and sipped his drink slowly. "I wonder how you keep things up with her needs, if you know what I mean," he winked. "Those bags are pretty. Oh! Look at these shoes, so eye catching!" He made disgusting voice, mocking Jennie. 

Lisa clenched her jaw. Her fist was more than ready to punch this scumbag. 

"He's not worth it," Jennie, out of nowhere whispered to her ear as she soothed her hand gently. "Lets go." she nudge her, silently pleading not to draw more attention.

Lisa followed her then stopped midway. Jennie was surprised, she wanted to drag Lisa out of there as fast as she can. Lisa turned to face her, she didn't meet an angry look upon Lisa's face, instead Lisa stared at her softly, full of love. 

"Let me handle this," she said. "I wont humiliate both of us." She caressed Jennie's cheek in front of at least dozens of people. 

"Well, Mr. Ok," she narrowed her eyes at his name tag that embedded on his coat. 

"First of all, nurse is a great profession, in fact, they can and probably still willing to save your life though you bad mouthing them and you know nothing even a tiny bit about Jennie. Second of all, my ears kind of tingle hearing you called me Ms. Lisa Manoban, because people usually call me Doctor Lisa Manoban." She turned her heels before she made the last U turn and flicked her tongue even more arrogant than he did.

"Oh, and one more thing, if you happen to have a problem with your heart, please do come to Seoul Trauma Center Hospital. I work as the one and only cardiothoracic surgeon there, maybe I could help," she increased her brow as she smiled haughtily.

She put her hand at Jennie's waist and leaded their way. 

"Do you even have a slightly idea of who are you dating?" He spoke loudly, clearly his intention was for everyone to heard it "You're dating a greedy slut, she's probably just after your money then leave you when you have nothing!"

Lisa's face reddened in a flash. Her blood was boiling, her body shaking in anger. 

"Oh yeah you hear me just right," he walked slowly to their direction. "Ask the nasty scar on her face!" He laughed heartlessly. 

His laughter drowned by the high pitch scream pleading for help from somewhere. 

A man collapsed to the ground grasping his chest. 

She glanced at her side, Jennie wasn't there anymore. She panicky explored the crowds hoping Jennie was still there somewhere. 

"Hey, you're a doctor help him!" The jerk shouted. She noticed Jennie headed to the main door. 

Her head was spinning, she didn't know what to do. 

Jennie was hurt but that man needed her.

"Help him, we got her." Irene appeared at her side and squeezed her arm lightly. 

She shortly sprinted rapidly to catch Jennie. Lisa ran towards the old guy, performed a quick exam and do the CPR due to the lack of pulse in carotid artery. 

Tonight turned out to be a nightmare.

*****

Lisa didn't bother to kick off her shoes as she entered her house. 

"Nini!" She shouted. 

Chaeyoung and Irene abruptly stood up from the couch. 

"Where is she?!" Jennie was out of breath, she didn't stop running from the moment she had her feet on the ground.

"At her room. Lisa," Irene blocked her way. "She's not a bad person, I guarantee you that. Whatever your decision is, think about it carefully." 

"I don t know what are you talking about." she walked pass her. 

Both of them stared at the closed door Lisa just entered. They praying in their heart for the best for their best friend before stepped out of the house. 

They held their phone and never let it go. In case Jennie needed them to picked her up.

*****

"Nini, what are you doing?" The view of scattered clothes everywhere scared her. 

"Jennie!" 

The girl with messy hair walked out of the bathroom. 

"Lisa?" She was clearly been crying the whole time. Her eyes were red and puffy. Her mascara smudged around her eyes. She cursed inwardly at her friends. She explicitly told them to not let Lisa in. 

"What are you doing?" She repeated in fear. "Where are you going?" 

"Isn't it obvious, Lisa-ah?" Her voice cracked. "It's been a year, pass a year," she wiped the tears that coning down her face. 

Lisa was lost. "What?" 

"Don't you remember?"

A year, baby girl. 

Get to know her a year and if you really can't be with her, we can bring this up ever again. 

Nothing is going to happen within a year.

If you can't make me fall in love with you within a year, there's no necessity forme to see you anymore. 

"Oh no. No, no Nini you can't do this. You can't leave me," Lisa attempted to shorten their distance but Jennie took a step back. 

Lisa could feel the shiver of horror through her neck at Jennie's action. 

"The deal is over, Lisa-ah," she swallowed hard. "I think its time for as go on our separated ways," she smiled bitterly. 

"No," Lisa spoke sternly. "No." Lisa stepped closer. Once again Jennie moved back. 

"Don't you hear what he says?!" Jennie shouted, she was desperate and hurt, Lisa's persistence made it all worse. 

"He knows nothing about you." 

"He knows everything, Lisa! He knows everything and you don't." She cried, her chest hurt no badly. 

"What are you talking about?" Lisa ignored her wet eyes, her breathing was heavy. 

"What he says about me is all true. I was a player back in high school. I had lots of boyfriends. I had all of them wrapped around my finger. It was easy to persuade those fools to give me what I wanted," she purposely talked in exaggerated manner to push Lisa away, to made Lisa disgusted with her. 

Lisa was stunned at her confession. 

"One day when I made out with my ex, he forced me to have sex with him. I rejected him and I got this scar," Jennie rubbed off the make up on her right cheek with all her might. 

"He clawed me. That's why I put on make up twenty four seven. I ran away from New Zealand to Seoul to bury that memory, now it's haunting me again. I don't know how or why he showed up in tonight's event. Karma is a bitch isn't it?" she laughed broken-heartedly. 

The silence was deafening them. 

Eventually the floor chirped by Lisa's shoes friction. 

She, without a word put all the scattered clothes inside the suitcase then zipped it. 

Jennie froze on her place. 

Lisa pulled the suitcase out of her door. Her legs couldn't bear the weight of the world that been put on her shoulder for the past couple hours anymore. 

She collapsed to the ground. 

Wasn't this what she wanted? To make Lisa hate her so she can leave her first? 

Then why did it hurt so much when Lisa is finally kicking her out?

---------------**

End.

Joke.

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